Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

The Mughal Emperor Akbar has longed for an heir, but the son born to him grows into a headstrong young man. When Prince Salim returns from years of military training, he falls passionately in love with Anarkali, a dancer at court. Akbar sees the romance as a threat to the empire and to his authority, and father and son move towards open conflict, with Anarkali caught between them and a jealous rival dancer plotting against her. K. Asif spent well over a decade making Mughal-e-Azam, with huge sets, costumes and battle scenes, and it became one of the greatest successes in Indian film history. The song "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya", filmed in a mirrored hall, is legendary, Naushad's score is a classic, and a colourised version was released in 2004.